Tip of the week ...
how to bid on wine at auction
Check the source. “Provenance is crucial,” whether buying an individual wine or a case. The older a wine, the more important it is to educate yourself on “where and how it’s been kept.”
Get answers. Don’t be afraid to deal with wine specialists who plainly know more than you do. “Answering questions is their job,” so find out all you need to before making your purchase.
Stick with the original. “It’s hard to fake a chateau’s imprint,” so buy wine in its original wooden case; it should be “indicated by ‘OWC’” in
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
an auction catalogue.
Do a taste test. Examine a wine like you would a “piece of art.” When buying a case, ask to sample a bottle, and make sure its “color, aroma, taste, or physical condition” fulfills your expectations. If you discover the wine is spoiled after making the purchase, you won’t be given your money back. But “all reputable auctioneers will attempt to work out a fair settlement.”
Source: Art + Auction
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The mounting tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
Long-running border disputes are at a decade high, as protesters in Thailand demand the prime minister's resignation
-
The unravelling of 'trolls' paradise' Tattle Life
In the Spotlight Unmasking of founder sends shockwaves through toxic gossip forum
-
Codeword: June 30, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle